Andrew's Collection
Earth 04/14/2011
Sugar Factory, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| Source | 2 x DPA 4060 mics -> DPA MMA6000 amplifier (100 Hz low-cut filter) -> Edirol R-09HR recorder (44.1 kHz/16 bit WAV) -> Audacity 1.3.12-beta (tracks split, fades added) -> FLAC (compression level 8) [libFLAC 1.2.1 20070917] |
| Media | Flac CDR 1 disc |
| Tech Notes | "NOTES: Slow-motion, minimal, ambient rock stalwarts, Earth, were in Amsterdam for a warm-up prior to their Friday appearance at Tilburg's Roadburn Festival. Devoid of roadies, they appeared on stage in the Sugar Factory's intimate surroundings as Sabbath Assembly departed, and began to ready their equipment for the gig. Preparations were complete by 21:15 and, with the band already on stage, it was a low-key start to the evening's main event. 85 minutes of unobtrusively sparse riffs and steadily tinkled drums follow, drawn along on an undercurrent of droning cello and plodding bass. These eight pieces of music -- I hesitate to call them songs when no-one is singing -- distend to easily fill the available temporal space. The rests are as momentous as the notes here. Dylan Carson feels no obligation to fill the void with his guitar. Why play ten notes when one will do? Adrienne Davies complements with unwaveringly spartan percussion, applying just enough force to maintain the momentum, ensuring that the piece continues to lurch forward under its own weight. It takes actual discipline to play this slowly and sparingly. Each piece of music moves with the agility of a freight train pulling out of a station. Close your eyes and you can easily imagine yourself at a gig by any of the usual post-rock suspects. Any of the pieces performed here tonight could be a Mogwai intro, for example, but Earth resist all temptation to use these delicate structures as a launching pad to something more visceral. Just when you think you've recognised the pattern and seen this all before, your expectations are confounded. The anticipated flourishes of guitar fail to materialise. There's no denouement, no climax and no crescendo. You wait, but it never comes. Lonely, cinematic soundscapes depict deserts, canyons and the surface of cold, dead planets, far from here. It's the soundtrack to your imagination. Glacial in imagery, glacial in tempo, Earth are in no hurry to do anything or get anywhere. If that suits you, come along for the ride, but be prepared for the scenic route. As usual, I have done performed no software trickery to enhance the recording. The sound is crystal-clear throughout, with virtually no noise from the audience, except when applauding. Enjoy!" |
| Trades Allowed | Yes |
| Ratings | Show: A Sound: A |
Owned by Andrew
· Last Updated May 23, 2023
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